PUBLIC INTEREST RESOURCE CENTER SUMMER PUBLIC INTEREST PROGRAMS
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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.� ~Margaret Mead
HOPE FELLOWS PROGRAM The HOPE Fellows Program gives rising 2L and 3L students, with a commitment to public interest advocacy, the opportunity to create their public interest dream job at an agency locally, nationally or internationally, and receive a stipend from the HOPE Public Interest Resource Center. HOPE Fellows work with public interest organizations to provide legal advocacy, policy development and implementation, and to devise systems to enhance the delivery of legal services. The HOPE Fellows Program challenges students to identify host agencies and develop on-site projects to uniquely address the unmet needs of the organization’s constituency. Upon their return to Miami Law, HOPE Fellows design and implement initiatives to educate and engage law students in advocacy related to their area of concentration. Over the years, the program has grown from just two fellows, placed in local agencies, to up to twenty fellows, each summer, across the globe.
"Being a HOPE Fellow enabled me to continue to chase my dream. Without HOPE, it would be far tougher for me to continue doing what I love, and helping those who are in need. For the HOPE Office to award me a fellowship, give me their support, and even educate me and help me in developing my skills while I work, is a tremendous resource and a necessity for students like me who wish to continue working for the public good." ~Philip Papiasvili HOPE Fellow 2018 New York Legal Assistance Group, New York, NY
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ANGELA AUDIE § CLASS OF 2019
LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, Vallejo, CA Angela Audie graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2014 with a B.S. in Psychology and minors in English and Environmental Action and Leadership. Prior to law school, Angela worked as a Youth Development Worker with an agency that provides services and leadership to the emerging needs of young people and their families in Evanston, IL. She also served as an environmental advocate with a non-profit organization that works to defend natural resources and protected habitats throughout the United States. At Miami Law, Angela has volunteered with Books and Buddies and served as Vice President of Community Affairs for the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund. During the summer of 2017, she was a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow at the Office of the Miami-Dade County Public Defender. During the summer of 2018, Angela served as a HOPE Fellow with Legal Services of Northern California in Vallejo, CA, focusing primarily on housing and public benefits.
BRIDGETT BAUER § CLASS OF 2019
U.S. SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION, Miami, FL Bridgett Bauer graduated from the University of Florida in 2015 with a B.A. in Business Administration and a minor in Mass Communication. Prior to entering law school, she interned with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Honorable Judge Bronwyn Miller, and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. During her 2L year at Miami Law, she worked with the Housing Unit at Legal Services of Greater Miami, providing assistance with cases involving bankruptcy, mortgage foreclosure, and consumer protection. During the summer of 2018, Bridgett served as a HOPE Fellow with the Enforcement Division of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in the Miami Regional Office.
ALEXIS BAY § CLASS OF 2020
TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT, Alamo, TX Alexis Bay graduated from the University of Texas PanAmerican in 2014 with a B.A. in Political Science. Prior to law school, they focused on grassroots community organizing in the Rio Grande Valley area, which was the catalyst to attending law school. While at Miami Law, Alexis has served as a research assistant with the Human Rights Clinic, has volunteered with the Immigration Clinic and is a member of the Public Interest Leadership Board. During the summer of 2018, Alexis served as a HOPE Fellow with the Texas Civil Rights Project in Alamo, TX, focusing on protecting voting rights, advancing racial and economic justice, and reforming the criminal justice system.
PAIGE BETTGE § CLASS OF 2019
PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Washington, DC Paige Bettge graduated magna cum laude from the College of William & Mary in May 2016 with a B.S. in Psychology and Philosophy. At Miami Law, Paige is a Miami Public Interest Scholar, a member of the Public Interest Leadership Board, President of
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the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, and a Senior Notes and Comments Editor for the University of Miami Law Review. During the summer of 2017, she worked for Compassion Over Killing, a farm animal advocacy agency. She has served as an extern with the Florida Justice Institute, a prisoners’ rights litigation firm, and as a legal intern for the Children & Youth Law Clinic. During the summer of 2018, Paige served as a HOPE Fellow at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia in the Civil Legal Services Division.
DANIEL BUJAN § CLASS OF 2019 BAY AREA LEGAL AID, Oakland, CA
Daniel Bujan graduated from Florida International University in 2014 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice. While attending FIU, he participated in a semester abroad program in Madrid where he took classes in Criminal Law. Prior to attending law school, he worked at two South Florida law firms. At Miami Law, he is a member of the Business Law Review, Hispanic Law Students Association and in the Business of Innovation, Law and Technology Concentration. During the summer of 2017, Daniel worked as a law clerk at MasTec, a construction, engineering and procurement company. During the summer of 2018, he served as a HOPE Fellow with Bay Area Legal Aid in Oakland, CA, where he worked in the agency’s Re-Entry Unit, addressing issues faced by formerly incarcerated individuals.
HALEY COVE § CLASS OF 2019
COLORADO PUBLIC DEFENDER, Brighton, CO Haley Cove graduated from Florida State University in 2015 with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Social Science with a focus on Sociology and Political Science. As a 1L at Miami Law, Haley was elected (and later re-elected) as Student Bar Association Class of 2019 Senator and Vice President of the ACLU-UM Law division, appointed Chair of Fundraising for the Public Interest Leadership Board, and served as a Miami Law Ambassador. She will continue holding leadership positions with SBA, PILB, and ACLU throughout her 3L year. Haley volunteers for various projects as a member of the Bar & Gavel Honor Society, as well as for the Community Justice Project, Feeding South Florida, and Planned Parenthood. She also participates in pro bono work with the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, where she worked as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow during the Summer of 2017. During the summer of 2018, Haley served as a HOPE Fellow with the Colorado Public Defender in Brighton, CO.
ALYSSA D’BAZO § CLASS OF 2019
COOK COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Chicago, IL Alyssa D’Bazo graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2015 with a B.A in Political Science and minors in Economic Policy and English Literature. Following her first year at Miami Law, she interned for the Honorable Patrick A. White, working on pro-se Habeas Corpus petitions and §1983 law suits, and the Honorable Robert A. Mark, focusing on bankruptcy petitions. During her 2L year, she was a mentor with the Hispanic Law Students Association and the Public Interest Network and interned with the Innocence Clinic. She also taught at Miami Senior High through the STREET Law program and served on the Honor Council as an election commissioner overseeing SBA elections. As a 3L, she is Editor-In-Chief of
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the Race and Social Justice Law Review. During the summer of 2018, Alyssa served as a HOPE Fellow with the Cook County State Attorney’s Office in Chicago, IL.
ANDREA' NICOLE EZELL § CLASS OF 2019 COMMUNITY JUSTICE PROJECT, Miami, FL
Andrea' Nicole Ezell graduated from Georgia State University in 2015 with a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Affairs and a Spanish minor. While at GSU, she competed as a Division I athlete, while also serving as the Political Awareness and Involvement Chair of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. At Miami Law, Andrea' has served a Senator of the Student Bar Association, Vice President of the Black Law Students Association, and is a member of the Society of Bar and Gavel. During her 1L summer, she was a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Donald L. Graham in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. As a 2L, Andrea' began addressing environmental contamination issues and the disparate impact those harms have on underprivileged communities as a clinical intern with the Environmental Justice Clinic and is continuing work as a fellow during her 3L year. During the summer of 2018, Andrea’ served as a HOPE Fellow with the Community Justice Project in Miami.
YADIRYS COLLADO GARCIA § CLASS OF 2019 AYUDA, Washington, DC
Yadirys Collado Garcia graduated from Boston University in May 2014 with a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy. During college, Yadirys worked as the Hispanic Liaison for State Representative Jeffrey Sanchez in Boston and as an interpreter/translator for Greater Boston Legal Services. Following graduation, she worked as a research analyst with the Massachusetts State Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health. As a 1L at Miami Law, where she is a Miami Public Interest Scholar, Yadirys volunteered with the immigration non-profit RAICES. During her 1L summer, she interned with The Door an organization in New York City that provides comprehensive youth development services and assists unaccompanied minors with their immigration cases. As a 2L, Yadirys participated in the Health Rights Clinic and was the Events and Advocacy Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association UM student chapter. During her 3L year, Yadirys is serving as as the president of the newly-renamed Immigration Students Law Association and participating in the DC Semester in Practice program as an intern with Kids in Need of Defense, assisting children in immigration court. During the summer of 2018, Yadirys served as a HOPE Fellow with Ayuda in Washington, DC, where she focused on vulnerable, low-income immigrants who seek to better their lives.
NICOLE MCLEMORE § CLASS OF 2019
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. TRUSTEES PROGRAM, OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, Washington, DC Nicole McLemore graduated cum laude from Florida State University in 2016 with a double major in Political Science and Interdisciplinary Social Science. During her time in college, Nicole worked as a bankruptcy assistant and file clerk with a Tallahassee law firm. She also volunteered with the Guardian ad Litem Program in Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit, where she was appointed by the court to advocate for the best interest
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of children in dependency cases. At Miami Law, Nicole is a Miami Public Interest Scholar, member of the Society of Bar and Gavel and Honor Council, and President of the ACLU-UM Chapter. She is also a member of the Charles C. Papy Moot Court Board and competed in the CKP Cup and Duberstein Competition. Nicole spent her 1L summer at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Legal Unit in New York City where she assisted trial attorneys representing the agency and its claimants in employment litigation pending in federal courts. During the fall semester of her 2L year, Nicole served as a judicial extern for U.S. Magistrate Judge John O’Sullivan. She is also active in the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida, where she served as Law School Liaison for the 2017-2018 Executive Board. During the summer of 2018, Nicole served as a HOPE Fellow with the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for U.S. Trustees Program, Office of General Counsel, in Washington, DC.
ALEX MEYER § CLASS OF 2019
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW MEXICO, CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION, Santa Fe, NM Alex Meyer graduated from Saint Mary’s University in 2012 with a B.A. in History and earned his M.A. in International Administration from the University of Miami in 2016. While in graduate school, he worked with the Center for Hemispheric Policy, addressing policy and development issues facing Latin America. As a 1L at Miami Law, Alex participated in the HOPE Alternative Spring Break at the Mississippi Center for Justice in Jackson, MS, where he worked on issues facing pro se litigants.. During the summer of 2017, Alex served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with Legal Services of Greater Miami in the Children's Advocacy Project . During his 2L year, he interned with the Children and Youth Law Clinic and joined the Inter-American Law Review. During his 3L year, Alex is interning with the Environmental Justice Clinic. During the summer of 2018, Alex served as a HOPE Fellow with the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General in the Consumer and Environmental Protection Division.
DOUGLAS MORALES § CLASS OF 2019
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW MEXICO, OPEN GOVERNMENT DIVISION, Santa Fe, NM Douglas Morales graduated from Hunter College, City University of New York, in June 2016 with a degree in Political Science and Women & Gender Studies. He was a member of the Dean’s List and the Pre-Law Society and was the recipient of the Mark Ladner and Julie Ross Public Interest Fellowship for Public Interest Law. Prior to law school, Douglas was a public affairs intern with Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast and a City Commission Intern with the City of West Palm Beach, working directly with Commissioner Paula Ryan. Douglas then joined Hillary For America as an intern and worked in the campaign management department at Clinton campaign headquarters in Brooklyn, NY. During his 1L summer at Miami Law, Douglas worked at the City Attorney’s Office for the City of Miami Beach. His work concentrated on the various legal issues surrounding the city’s land use and zoning decisions. As a 2L, Douglas participated in the Health Rights Clinic where he assisted several clients by directly representing them during Social Security Hearings, naturalization interviews, and assisted in all of their legal issues. During the summer of 2018, he served as a HOPE Fellow with the Attorney General’s Office for New Mexico in the Open Government Division.
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PHILIP PAPIASVILI § CLASS OF 2019
NEW YORK LEGAL ASSISTANCE GROUP, New York, NY Philip Papiasvili graduated from the University of MarylandCollege Park in 2012 with a degree in Philosophy. Upon graduating, he spent two years working as a public relations and publicity professional in Washington, DC. During his 1L year at Miami Law, he tutored teens in the juvenile system with the Empowered Youth program. During the summer of 2017, he interned with The Legal Wellness Institute at The Family Center in Brooklyn, NY. As a 2L, he interned with the Children and Youth Law Clinic and served as the President of the Society of Bar and Gavel, a position he will continue to hold as a 3L. He received a Carlton Fields HOPE Scholarship and served as a Co-Chair of Mentoring/Alumni Relations for the Public Interest Leadership Board. During the summer of 2018, Phil served as a HOPE Fellow with the Matrimonial and Family Law Division of New York Legal Assistance Group in New York, NY.
DANIEL POLLITT § CLASS OF 2019
CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S LAW AND POLICY, Washington, DC Daniel Pollitt graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2013. Following graduation, he joined the Mississippi Teacher Corps, an alternate route teaching and graduate school program serving critical needs schools throughout Mississippi. From 2013-2015, Daniel was the sixth grade math teacher and head basketball coach at Quitman County Middle School. In May 2015, he received an M.A. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Mississippi and began working for Harlem R.B.I., a New York City non-profit organization that provides academic and sports opportunities to inner city youth. At Miami Law, Daniel is a Miami Public Interest Scholar. During his 1L summer, he worked as a legal intern with the Legal Aid Society’s Harlem Community Law Office in New York, where he assisted low-income tenants facing eviction in Housing Court. During his 2L year, Daniel was an intern with the Environmental Justice Clinic, focusing on county zoning policies that adversely impacted low-income communities of color. During the summer of 2018, he served as a HOPE Fellow with the Center for Children’s Law and Policy in Washington, DC.
RICXZZIERY J. PORTILLO § CLASS OF 2020 FRESNO PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE, Fresno, CA
Ricxzziery J. Portillo graduated from the California State University of Los Angeles in 2016 with a B.A. in Political Science. While in college, he worked in marketing with a fragrance company and worked as a behavior consultant by providing respite to families who have children with autism. Ricxzziery served as his fraternity’s philanthropy chairman for three years, spearheading all of the organization’s philanthropy events and promoting volunteer work amongst members. During the summer of 2018, Ricxzziery served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Fresno Public Defender’s Office in Fresno, CA.
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SYDNEY THURMAN-BALDWIN § CLASS OF 2019 ATLANTA LEGAL AID, Atlanta, GA
Sydney Thurman-Baldwin graduated from Emory University in 2014 with a B.A. in International Politics and Linguistics. She also attended the University of Amsterdam and Hertie School of Governance in Berlin. At Miami Law, she has served as an intern in the Environmental Justice Clinic and in leadership roles with the Honor Council (incoming Presiding Officer), the Christian Legal Society (incoming President), the Black Law Student Association, and the International Law Society (incoming President). She has also volunteered with Books & Buddies, Miami Waterkeeper’s post-Irma restoration efforts, Overtown Youth Center, and Denver Public Schools, and has written for the International Law Section of the Florida Bar’s ILS Gazette. During the summer of 2017, Sydney served as a judicial intern in Bankruptcy Court with the Honorable Chief Judge Isicoff. During the summer of 2018, she served as a HOPE Fellow with Atlanta Legal Aid.
THOMAS VORACEK § CLASS OF 2019
LAW OFFICES OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, Albuquerque, NM Thomas Voracek graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland as a Banneker-Key Scholar in May 2016 with B.A. degrees in Women’s Studies, History, and Central European, Russian & Eurasian Studies. As an undergrad, Thomas spent the summer of 2015 as an Investigator with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. During his 1L and 2L years at Miami Law, he led alternative spring break trips to and volunteered with both the Mississippi Center for Justice and Florida Rural Legal Services. During his 1L summer, Thomas served as a legal intern with the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Florida. As a 2L, he worked as an intern in the Health Rights Clinic and was elected Writing Competition and Submissions Editor for the Race & Social Justice Law Review. Thomas is also a Miami Public Interest Scholar. During the summer of 2018, he served as a HOPE Fellow with the Law Offices of the Public Defender for the State of New Mexico in Albuquerque as a student-practice intern.
ACCESS TO JUSTICE TECHNOLOGY FELLOWSHIP
STEPHEN CAINES § CLASS OF 2019
LEGAL SERVICES OF GREATER MIAMI, Miami, FL Stephen Caines graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2016 with a B.S. in Legal Studies. During his 1L summer at Miami Law, he interned with the Office of Regional Counsel in the Juvenile Delinquency Unit. That summer he also began an internship with Cannonball-Legal Link, a non-profit that assists artists and arts organizations, and continued there throughout the fall semester. As a 2L, he worked as a research fellow for Dr. Mary Anne Franks and the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. During his time at Miami Law, Stephen has served as the elected Class of 2019 Florida Bar YLD Law Student Division Governor, Vice President of Marketing for the Federal Bar Association, Society of Bar and Gavel Member, and as a Public Interest Leadership Board Member. During the summer of 2018, he served as an Access to Justice Technology Fellow with Legal Services of Greater Miami.
The devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria throughout Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico in 2017 was unprecedented. As HOPE emerged from the most destructive hurricane season in decades, HOPE committed energy and resources to facilitating opportunities for law students to serve in hurricane-ravaged areas to increase access to justice through both the summer fellowship opportunities and through Legal Advocacy Alternative Spring Breaks.
HOPE FELLOWS IN PUERTO RICO HOPE is grateful for donations from Squire Patton Boggs and individual donors who made it possible to support two HOPE Fellowships in Puerto Rico this summer to assist with rebuilding efforts. SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS PUBLIC POLICY FELLOWSHIP
CATALINA RODRIGUEZ § CLASS OF 2019 ONE STOP CAREER CENTER OF PUERTO RICO, San Juan, PR
Catalina Rodriguez graduated from the University of Texas in 2016 with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in French. As a sociology major, Catalina focused on the importance of environmentally and socially sustainable practices in urban planning. She helped to research the mass-displacement of mobile home communities, and helped establish a weekly farmer’s market on campus for the many students living in food deserts in Austin. Catalina has continued to research sustainable housing practices at Miami Law as an intern in the Environmental Justice Clinic, where she focuses on affordable developments in the built environment. During the summer of 2018, Catalina traveled to Vietnam and China to study water conservation practices. She then served as a Squire Patton Boggs Public Policy Fellow with One Stop Career Center of Puerto Rico, Inc., where she made a significant contribution to the hurricane relief effort by helping represent Puerto Rico’s elderly population in civil litigation.
PEDRO QUINTANA § CLASS OF 2020 PRO BONO, INC., San Juan, PR
Pedro Quintana graduated from Florida State University in 2016 with a B.S. in Finance. While attending college, he interned with law firms focusing on Family/Elder Law and Business Law. Upon graduation, he served as a Trade and Investment Assistant at Pro-Mexico, an import-export company that worked closely with the Mexican Secretary of Economy. As a 2L at Miami Law, Pedro will serve as a judicial intern with Judge Lieberman in the Miami-Dade Children’s Courthouse. During the summer of 2018, Pedro served as a HOPE Fellow with Pro Bono, Inc. in Puerto Rico, bringing relief to those in need after Hurricane Maria.
Not even a hurricane can stop a 'Cane. LEGAL ADVOCACY ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAKS 2018 Thanks to funding from LAFAC, the SBA and donations, HOPE was able to partner with Legal Services of Greater Miami (“LSGMI”) and Florida Rural Legal Services (“FRLS”) to send ten students on Legal Advocacy Alternative Spring Breaks. The Florida Keys were hit especially hard by Hurricane Irma. As one of the only providers of civil legal services in the Keys, LSGMI established roving disaster relief clinics throughout the Keys for spring break, bringing legal services to many residents. After completing training, four Miami Law students assisted with clinics in Key Largo, Marathon, and Key West.
“Throughout the trip, we were able to truly engage in direct client service work and help address the needs of a vulnerable, low-income community. This trip was really enjoyable and a wonderful learning opportunity,” said 2L Miami Scholar Katrina Tomas. Six law students traveled to Fort Myers and spent spring break volunteering with FRLS where they were exposed to a wide range of civil legal issues. Lee County, where Fort Myers is located, was another region hard-hit by Irma. Students worked on housing law issues, assisted with self-help clinics at the local courthouse, observed court proceedings, assisted with research and drafting for cases in the office, and traveled to a migrant farm workers camp to help ensure farmworkers were aware of their rights.
“It is phenomenal to see the HOPE and SPIF students evolve as public interest advocates through their work locally, nationally and internationally. They are touched by the people and communities they serve and are committed to effectuating change and promoting access to justice for others.� ~Marni Lennon, Assistant Dean for Public Interest and Pro Bono
SUMMER PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWS PROGRAM The Summer Public Interest Fellows Program (SPIF) is designed to engage the public interest-minded student during the summer following their first year of law school. This selective program involves full-time work at a South Florida public interest agency for eight weeks during the summer along with a legal research and writing project. Fellows also participate in a seminar where members of the bench, bar and legal community visit and students share their work in the public sector. Participating students are given a stipend and receive three academic credits. HOPE is proud to support the public interest work of an increasing number of students who serve clients and communities in extraordinary ways.
The Miami Law SPIF program provided me with the opportunity to explore and pursue my passion in public interest law. The HOPE team gave me the support and resources I needed to excel in my legal training while working to make a difference in the community. It has always been a dream of mine to work at the Public Defender’s Office and I feel so blessed to have been given the chance to make that dream a reality. ~Devyn Nixon SPIF Fellow 2018 Office of the Miami-Dade Public Defender Miami, FL
MIAMI LAW SUMMER PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWS PROGRAM
ARIANA ABOULAFIA § CLASS OF 2020
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, Miami, FL Ariana Aboulafia graduated cum laude from the University of Southern California in 2016 with a B.A. in Political Science and Law, History and Culture, as well as a minor in Forensics and Criminality. She was the founder and president of the university’s only disability advocacy group, the Disability Students Association, which received a commendation for excellent service to the university by the Graduate Student Government. As a 2L at Miami Law, Ariana is serving as Vice President of OUTLaw and is a member of the Public Interest Leadership Board. She is also working for the ACLU and participating in the Human Rights Clinic. During the summer of 2018, Ariana served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
GABRIELA ABREU § CLASS OF 2020 CATHOLIC LEGAL SERVICES, Miami, FL
Gabriela Abreu graduated from Florida International University in 2016 with Bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Political Science. While at FIU, she interned with the Department of State on water conservation initiatives. After graduation she became the International Trade Manager at the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit organization aimed to facilitate business relations with the United States and Spain. At Miami Law, Gabriela is participating in the Business of Innovation, Law, and Technology Concentration. During the summer of 2018, she served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with Catholic Legal Services, where she assisted clients with immigration matters.
MICHAEL CLINCH § CLASS OF 2020
LEGAL SERVICES OF GREATER MIAMI, Miami, FL Michael Clinch graduated summa cum laude from Florida Atlantic University in 2015 with a B.S.W. in Social Work and in 2017 with a M.Ed. in Environmental Education. As an undergraduate student, Michael led several on-campus and community-based initiatives to enhance educational opportunities for young adults with substance use disorders. For this effort, Michael was recognized as the 2015 Undergraduate Student of the Year for the College for Design and Social Inquiry. During his 2L year at Miami Law, Michael is serving as Vice President of the Environmental Law Society. During the summer of 2018, Michael served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with Legal Services of Greater Miami in the Tenants’ Rights Unit.
MIAMI LAW SUMMER PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWS PROGRAM
JENNIFER GONZALEZ § CLASS OF 2020
OFFICE OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER, Miami, FL Jennifer Gonzalez graduate cum laude from Florida International University in 2014 with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Biology and Criminal Justice. Prior to entering law school, she worked as a Community Corrections Counselor with the Advocate Program, a non-profit organization that supervises pre-trial diversion and probation cases in Miami, FL. As a 1L at Miami Law, Jennifer was one of the founding members of Parkland Resource Center-Miami Law, where she focused on law student engagement leading up to March For Our Lives. She also took part in HOPE’s Alternative Spring Break Program with Florida Rural Legal Services, where she assisted with small claims cases involving low-income individuals. During her 2L year, Jennifer is participating in the Miami STREET Law Program. During the summer of 2018, Jennifer served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Miami-Dade County Public Defender.
CONNOR HEALEY § CLASS OF 2020
OFFICE OF THE BROWARD COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Connor Healey graduated from the University of Florida in 2016 with a B.S. in Finance and a minor in Entrepreneurship. While completing his undergraduate degree, he was involved in Gator Teens Mentors, a mentoring program that provides support to at-risk high school students. He was also a Teaching Assistant for Principles of Entrepreneurship while in college. At Miami Law, he is enrolled in the Business, Innovation, Law, and Technology Concentration, and he is participating in the Federal Appellate Clinic in the Fall of 2018. During the summer of 2018, Connor served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Broward County State Attorney.
CAROLINE HERTER § CLASS OF 2020
BROWARD OFFICE OF CRIMINAL CONFLICT AND CIVIL REGIONAL COUNSEL, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Caroline Herter graduated from the University of Miami in 2016 with a major in Broadcast Journalism and minors in Political Science and Urban Studies. After graduating, she moved to Bogotá, Colombia, where she taught English at corporations and businesses around the city. During her 1L year at Miami Law, Caroline helped to coordinate a community Spanish Criminal Justice Education program, and volunteered with the National Lawyers Guild, Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Sealing and Expungement Program, and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. During her 2L year, Caroline is participating in in Miami Law’s Innocence Clinic and working as a Research Assistant. During the summer of 2018, she served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Broward Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel.
MIAMI LAW SUMMER PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWS PROGRAM
CICELY HODGES § CLASS OF 2020 MIAMI HOMES FOR ALL, Miami, FL
Cicely Hodges graduated from University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Social Work and a minor in Spanish. While at UCF, she interned with Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando, providing case management and emergency services to clients seeking rental and utility assistance, housing, employment and financial stabilization. During her 2L year at Miami Law, she is participating in the Tenants’ Rights Clinic at Legal Services of Greater Miami. During the summer of 2018, Cicely served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with Miami Homes for All, where she worked on issues of affordable housing and homelessness.
ALICE KERR § CLASS OF 2020
LEGAL SERVICES OF GREATER MIAMI, Miami, FL Alice Kerr graduated in 1988 from Hofstra University with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. She earned her M.A. in Liberal Studies from the University of Miami in 1996. Prior to law school, she retired from a 30-year military career that spanned both Army Active and Reserve Forces Duty. She also worked for 23 years in Human Resources and Information Technology at the University of Miami. During her 2L year at Miami Law, she is participating in the Health Rights Clinic and the Professional Responsibility and Ethics Program. During the summer of 2018, Alice served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. in the Health and Income Maintenance Unit and focused on service to veterans.
EVAN KUHL § CLASS OF 2020
FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, Miami, FL Evan Kuhl graduated from Florida State University in 2011 with a B.S. in Marketing. Prior to law school, Evan worked as an Instructional Paraprofessional with the Delaware Autism Program. As a 1L at Miami Law, Evan co-founded the Parkland Resource Center project with the aim to use law student engagement to support the passage of sensible gun legislation. During his 2L year, Evan is serving as the Secretary for the Criminal Law Society as well as the Mentorship Co-Chair for the Public Interest Leadership Board. During the summer of 2018, Evan served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
ROMNEY MANASSA § CLASS OF 2020
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, Miami, FL
Romney Manassa graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a B.A. in Political Science, a B.A. in International Relations, and a minor in Economics. His academic focus included human rights, international law and
MIAMI LAW SUMMER PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWS PROGRAM
institutions, public administration, and comparative law and politics. After graduation he joined Public Allies, a nonprofit organization whose AmeriCorps program promotes civic engagement, public service, and leadership development for young adults. As a Public Ally, Romney worked for the Miami-Dade County Health Department, where he contributed to several public health advisories and outreach campaigns to underserved communities. He participated in weekly leadership exercises and seminars, and took part in various community service projects, such as supporting an inner-city urban garden, beautifying a low-income elementary school, and assisting a food bank. As a 2L at Miami Law, he is participating in the Human Rights Clinic and served on the Honor Council. During the summer of 2018, Romney served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
DEVYN NIXON § CLASS OF 2020
OFFICE OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER, Miami, FL Devyn Nixon graduated from Florida State University in 2013 with a B.S. in Political Science and a minor in Business. As an undergraduate student, Devyn served on the executive board of The Big Event to connect students with the largest service project in Tallahassee. As a 1L at Miami Law, Devyn served as the Student Bar Association Parliamentarian and as a Student Ambassador. During her 2L year, she is serving on the Public Interest Leadership Board and representing her class as an Honor Council Member. During the summer of 2018, Devyn served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Miami-Dade County Public Defender.
NESTOR VICENTE PEREZ § CLASS OF 2020 NORTH MIAMI BEACH CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, North Miami Beach, FL
Nestor Vicente Perez graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a B.A. in International Relations. In 2010, he was one of 75 recipients of the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange yearlong fellowship in Germany. During his time in Germany, Nestor studied political science at the at George-August-Universität in Göttingen, served as an intern at the German Parliament, and as a writer at the Pogrom Magazine for the human rights organization Society for Threatened Peoples. Upon return to the US, Nestor worked for President Obama’s reelection campaign, the Jackson Health public hospital funding referendum campaign, and for Planned Parenthood’s Miami implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Nestor earned his master’s degree in Political Science at the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. During the summer of 2018, he served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the North Miami Beach City Attorney’s Office.
MIAMI LAW SUMMER PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWS PROGRAM
SANA SYYED QAMAR § CLASS OF 2020
OFFICE OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER, Miami, FL Sana Syyed Qamar graduated from the University of Florida in 2015 with a B.A. in Criminology & Law and Religion. As an undergraduate student, Sana interned with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Southern Legal Counsel, and the National Criminal Justice Association. Prior to law school, she completed a Princeton in Asia Teaching Fellowship in Phang Nga, Thailand. As a 2L, she is participating in Miami STREET Law and serving as Vice President of the South Asian Law Students Association. During the summer of 2018, Sana served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Miami-Dade County Public Defender.
STEPHANIE ROBIN § CLASS OF 2020
LEGAL SERVICES OF GREATER MIAMI, Miami, FL Stephanie Robin graduated from Florida State University in 2014 with a combined B.S. in Exceptional Student Education and M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction for Students with Exceptionalities. After graduation, she worked as a high school teacher for students with severe to profound disabilities in the Broward County School District. As a 1L at Miami Law, Stephanie served as a Miami Law Ambassador and was a member of OUTLaw and Miami Law Women. During her 2L year, she is serving as Activism Chair on the executive board of OUTLaw and is participating in the Children and Youth Clinic. During the Sumer of 2018, Stephanie served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with Legal Services of Greater Miami in the Children’s Advocacy Project.
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
It was especially meaningful to be a HOPE Fellow because it reinforced how valuable public interest work is to our community and provided me with the financial freedom to pursue my dream job in criminal defense. ~Haley Cove HOPE Fellow 2018 Colorado Public Defender Brighton, CO
During my years working as a community organizer on the U.S. border, I always wanted to join the Texas Civil Rights Project. With the assistance of the HOPE Fellowship, I was amazed and excited to spend my first summer in law school at that very agency, doing the public interest work I hope to do when I graduate. ~Alexis Bay HOPE Fellow 2018 Texas Civil Rights Project, Alamo, TX
As a Summer Public Interest Fellow, not only was I able to serve the public and protect the constitutional rights of the underprivileged in our community, but I did so while working alongside some of the most talented litigators in the country. ~Evan Kuhl SPIF Fellow 2018 Office of the Federal Public Defender Miami, FL
Interest MIAMILAW HOPE Public Resource Center UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF LAW
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